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At a meeting- of the De7nocratic Republicans of the county 
of Gloucester^ convened by advertisements^ and held at the 
court house in Woodherry^ on the ZXst day of August^ 
1807, for the purpose of nominating candidates for the le- 
gislature^ and a sheriff and coroner for said county : 

PREVIOUS to the nomination, the substance of the 
following address, containing a brief narrative of the most 
oppressive laws passed during the federal administration, 
their extravagant expenditure of the public money, prose- 
cutions, fines and imprisonments, to prevent freedom of 
speech, or an investigation of their conduct ; contrasted 
with the conduct of the present administration was deliver- 
ed by the president (James Sloan,) unanimously approved 
by the meeting, 500 copies ordered to be printed, together 
with the names of the candidates, and distributed amongst 
the electors of the aforesaid county, in the usual manner, 
for their information, after which, the following candidates 
were unanimously agreed upon, and earnestly recommend- 
ed by said meeting as democratic republicans, firm friends 
and supporters of our excellent administration, and as such, 
worthy of the support of every elector of the county of 
Gloucester, at the ensuing election, who is a real friend to 
the prosperity, peace and happiness of these United States. 

Council, RICHARD M. COOPER. 
Assembly, BEJAMIN RULON, 
JACOB GLOVER and 
SCOBY STEWART. 

Sheriff EPHRAIM MILLER, 

Coroners, JOSEPH SLOAN, 

JAMES MILLER and 
ROBERT LEEDS, 



/ 



( 2 ) E 3>3 

, ' I) St 

miENDS, COUNTRYMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS, 

IT is with great diffidence, I rise to attempt the per- 
ibrmance of the task assigned me this day — this diffidence 
arises partly from a consciousness of my inability, and 
pardy from being again called into action, contrary to my 
own desire, which was to have retired from the various 
troubled scenes of life ; and the few remaining days that 
may be allotted me, to have walked softly on my solemn 
western shore, from which I must soon embark to a world 
as yet unknown ; but the only sovereign under God, which 
I acknowlege the people, having forbid my proposed quiet 
and silent retreat, by placing me again, as one of the 
guardians of their rights and liberties, and commanded me 
again to stand on my watch tower, their command I obey, 
and as formerly consider it my duty, to expose to public 
view the conduct of public servants, and waiTi my fellow 
citizens of impending danger arising from foreign or do- 
mestic enemies ; or the more dangerous intrigues of inter- 
nal pretended friends — in attempting to perform the duty 
you have assigned me, I ask the aid of your spirits, and 
serious attention, assuring you, that nothing short of a 
sense of duty, arising from my earnest desire, that the pre- 
sent inestimable blessings that the people of the United 
States enjoy, may be continued through all succeeding ge- 
nerations, could have induced me to have undertaken the 
arduous task. 

Agreeable to the expectation given in the advertisements 
by which this meeting has been convened, I shall now pro- 
ceed to state some facts, exposing to public view, the con- 
duct of the former federal administration ; (so called) con- 
trasted with the present democratic administration. In 
doing which, I shall shew that many of the people of these 
United States, have been, and still are deceived, and im- 
posed upon by perverting the meaning of words, particu- 
larly the following, viz. federal, democrat and party — and 
and first of the word party — the fact is from the com- 
mencement of the revolutionary war to the present time, 
there has been but one party and one faction, a noble patriot- 
ic party, whose views are, to release mankind from the op- 
pression and tyranny of monarchial and aristocratical fac- 
tions, under which they have long groaned ; and to restore 
to them their inherent and unalienable rights — on the other 
side, a base faction who determined to counteract the de- 
cree of Pleaven, in procuring their bread by the sweat of 



NA- 



^\ 



( 3 ) 

their brows ; are under the necessity of procuring it bv de- 
ceptive fraud or force ; in the old world, (particularly Eng. 
land) this faction is headed by the superior clergy, nobili- 
ty, privileged orders and incorporated companies — in these 
United States by lawyers, whose living depends upon the 
folly, wickedness and distress of the people, and such of 
the clergy as wish to see an established church, British 
merchants, their agents and the agents, spies and en^issa- 
ries, immediately under the direction and pay of that cor- 
rupt government, who failing in her attempt to subjugate 
the colonies, has since, manifested the most implacable en- 
mity to these United States, and incessantly strove to effect 
by fraud and deception, what she was unable to do by force 
of arms, that is to say, to extinguish that sacred flame of 
liberty, that inspired the patriots of the revolutionary war, 
at the risk of life, to oppose her tyranny : the leaders of 
this base faction, have in various ages of the world assum- 
ed various names, in order to deceive the innocent unsus- 
pecting part of the people, and under every name to cover 
their nefarious designs, making a high profession of reli- 
gion, and that all their views are solely directed to support 
order imd good government. In the revolutionary war 
which produced the independence of these United States, 
this faction was called tories ; that is to say, enemies to the 
revolution, and supporters of the monarchial government 
to which the colonies had been subject — after framing our 
present constitution, they assumed the name of federal- 
ists, (a name as applicable to a confederated band of high- 
way robbers or pirates, as to the most virtuous) and brand- 
ed all who did not extol said constitution " as a model of 
perfection" with the name of anti-federalists and enemies 
to the union; notwithstanding it being self-evident, with- 
out the amendatory articles since annexed, it might have 
'been used as an engine exactly fitted for their purpose, viz. 
to gradually deprive the people of their inherent rights, and 
finally reduce them to the same state of slavery which the 
citizens of the old world h^ve long suffered, under monarchi- 
al and aristocratical factions, under the name of federal- 
ists they deceived the people, and concealed their real de- 
sign, every session of congress adding new laws copied 
from British statute books, (as will be shewn hereafter) 
until they thought themselves strong enough to throw off 
the mask " and by a few bold strokes, silence all opposi- 
tion" — but finding the spirit of liberty was yet too strong, 
that the people were yet strongly attached to a democratic 



( 4 ) 

republican form of government ; they were again obliged 
to have recourse to deception, by adding to their assumed 
name of federal, that of republican, (an indefinate term, 
as applicable to many aristocrats, as to many democrats) 
nov/ passing in this state under the name of federal repub- 
licans, their leaders as heretofore, evincing as implacable 
enmity to democracy, as the priests of Diana in days of 
old, did to the spreading of the gospel, and for the same 
reason, that is to say, because it opens to the people their 
deceptive oppression and tyranny, which if generally 
knov/n, would deprive them of their power and influence, 
and prevent them in future, from living in idleness, riot 
and luxury, upon the unjust gain of oppression, as they 
have heretofore done. 

I will here present you the definition of the words party, 
and faction. First, by Sir William Jones, " (party says he) 
is grounded on principle ; faction on self interest, or that 
of a few, which excludes principle." — Second by the Ve- 
nerable Charles Thompson, secretary to Congress, during 
the revolutionary war, distinguished by superior learning 
and talents, exemplary in piety and virtue, whose uniform 
attachment to the sacred cause of liberty, renders his name 
dear to every real friend to the just principle of our revo- 
lution, set forth in our declaration of independence in the 
the follovfing words, " We hold these truths to be self 
evident, that God hath created all men equal, that he hath 
endowed them with certain unalienable rights, amongst 
which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." 

" Party (says he) is the association of men for the gene- 
ral interest — such as the enactment of good laws, the 
maintenance of civil liberty, the resitance of tyranny, the 
advancement of morality, and whatever else will promote 
the good of man and society : Faction on the other hand, 
has a partial object, and is indifferent to general good — 
its object is to promote a particular, at the expense of a 
general interest — it prefers the enrichment or agrandizement 
of one or of a few ; to the comfort and prosperity of the 
whole. A republic is founded in the spirit of party — all other 
governments are founded in the spirit of faction ; and all 
factions have a monarchical, or aristocratical tendency, 
however disguised from public observation, or even from 
its own blind partizans." 

From the foregoing definition it is evident there has not 
been, nor is at present, but one party and one faction in 
these Unites States — ^that the leaders of the self-stiled fe- 



( 5 ) 

derai republicriiis hrcve been, and still are, enemies to oui; 
democratic government. I shall nov,' proceed to prove by 
the best testimony that can possibly be adduced, their 
fruits^ but first shew, that our government is a democracy, 
consequently every supporter thereof a democrat, and in 
order more fully to explain the subject, I will subjoin the 
definition of all the forms of government, I find in dic- 
tionaries, as foUovv's : 1st. Monarchy, '*■ the government 
of a single person." 

2d. Aristocracy, " that form or government v\^hich 
places the supreme power in the nobles." 

3d. Democracy, *' one of the three forms of govern- 
ment ; that in which the sovereign power is lodged in the 
body of the people." 

None I trust will presume to say, that our government 
is either a monarchy or an aristocracy ; consequently there 
being but three forms, ours must be a democracy ; but if 
any doubt remains it must be removed by recurring to the 
preamble of our constitution in the follow^ing v/ords, *' We 
the people of the United States, in order to form a more 
perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranqui- 
lity, provide for the common defence, promote the general 
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves 
I and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution 
for the United States of America." 

Mark fellow citizens, not we the representatives of the 
people, but " We the people." Can any government be 
• more democratical ? can any name be more applicable to 
the leaders of the federal faction, than traitors to the best 
of governments ; who (as I shall nov/ proceed to shew) 
whilst in power, represented democracy and democrats 
as the most detestable of all things, and incessantly strove 
to assimulate it to the worst on earth, (great Britain) and 
since they have been deprived of power, by a great m?jo- 
rity of a much injured people, have joined (if not plotted) 
one of the most wicked diabolical conspiracies, having 
for its object the destruction of an administration, and 
I form of government, the best calculated to promote the 
general happiness of mankind of any now existing upon 
earth. If any doubt this assertion, that many of the 
leaders of the federal faction were engaged in supporting 
the conspiracy of that incendiary, vile apostate, and arch 
traitor. Burr; th^ y are informed that it can be incontestably 
proved by a cloud of witnesses from all pirts of the United 
States were it necessary ; but a few facts already made 



( 6 ) 

public, is sufficient to convince ever;,^ impartial mind* 
Ist. their principal leader (Jonathan Davton) being indict- 
ed for high treason, and secretint^ himself to prevent being- 
arrested, is an evident proof of his guilt. 2d. the follow- 
ing extract of a letter wrote in the Federal City by Gaylord 
Griswold a member of congress from the state of New 
York, is in my opinion conciusive evidence. " The 
movements of Burr, (said ?vlr. Griswold) disturb the quiet 
of their souls — he will shake the very centre of the con- 
clave. You may rest assured my good fellow, that if our 
friends play true, Burr will chastize these usurpers of pov;-.* 
er, with a rod they deserve — he is no more one of their 
party, though for certain purposes must so appear — rely 
upon this as true ; he is the only person v/ho can chastise 
these fellows, and policy dictates our uniting to give him 
a support* All our federal friends in this city (Washing- 
ton) have the same opinion — all the judges of the supreme 
court are united with us in this opinion." From my ovm 
knov/lege of the federal members in congress, and the 
judges of the supreme court, I believe the purport of the 
above letter to be strictly true, and the conduct of the 
chief justice and federal lav/yers upon the trial of those 
traitors novv^ pending, places the matter beyond all doubt. 
The federals (so called) assumed the reins of govern- 
ment in the year 1789, and held them nearly twelve years, 
that is to say', until the 3d of March, 1801, a time by their 
own repeated declar?.tions on the floor of congress and 
elsevv'here, of unexampled prosperity ; notv/ithstanding 
which, instead of diminishing, they increased our nati- 
onal debt, 9,400,000 dollars — they first passed a law 
funding our public debt, calculated to encourage and 
support tories, speculators and stock-jobbers, those harpies 
who live by preying upon the vitals of the honest industri- 
ous citizens — ^by this law, the soldiers certificates which 
at the close of the war, had generally been sold from IflO-l- 
to 2fQ in the pound, (principally to the tories and traders 
vnth the British, who therel^y became possessed of hard 
money,) v/as redeemable at 20.s — Whence our debt, which if 
justly funded, would have been little more than thirty, ex- 
ceeded seventy millions of dollars ; tories British agents, 
iknd the bitterest enemies of our ^evolution, were raised in- 
to a state'of opulence, at the expence of the honest citizens 
and soldiers, who at the risk of life, had purchased our in- 
dependence — thus enemies and traitors were publicly re- 
warded, and a door of speculation opened, which during 



( 7 ) 

tiie federal administnitlon, brought these United States to 
the brink of rain — iVcni this time to the close of their ad- 
ministration, they evinced an implacable hatred to demo- 
cracy, and a determination to .iKsimuIate our gcvern- 
ment to the worst on earth, (England) as appears b)- the 
laws passed, being generally copied from British statute 
hooks, the excise law, and the lav/ changing the time for 
aliens to become citizens, from two to fourteen years pas- 
sed '^ August 10, 1790, they laid a duty of 12 cents 

on every 50lbs, of salt imported into the United States, 
and in July, 1797, an additional duty of 8 cents, tlms, this 
essentially necessary article principally consumed by the 
poor and middle classes, paid more than 100 per cent, on 
prime cost ; while foreign fripperies and articles of luxury 
used by the rich, paid from 10 to 20 per cent. — July 6, 
1797, they passed an infamous stamp act upon the British 
plan, and June 25, 1798, passed an alien law, autliorising 
the President to banish such aliens as he thought proper, 
without any trial, or even information of what offence thev 
were charged with, and July the 6th of the same year, a 
lav/ obliging aliens to give security for their good behavi- 
or. Here let me ask you my dear fellov/ citizens, is there 
a human being on earth, whose breast is not filled with ab- 
horrence to the very names of such laws ; and detestation 
to the inhuman tyrants that could advocate and finally place 
their signatures thereto. Laws placing at the will of an 
individual, m^any thousands of human beings, who when 
the colonists were contending Avith the tyrant of Great Bri- 
tain for liberty, were invited to join in the common cause, 
and in consequence thereof, had fled from the tyranny of 
European despots, expecting in these United States to find 
a safe assylum for the sufferers of all nations, enabling him 
to send a band of armed mercenaries to the peaceful cot- 
tage, and rend the aged sire from his bosom friend and be- 
loved offspring, and without informing him of the cause, 
' transport hiin to the frozen regions of Siberia, there, far 
seperated from all the near and dear connexions of life, to 
mourn out the remainder of his days, looking anxiously for 
the approach of death, as his only hope and welcome deli- 
verer! — Oh ! ye who yet continue to support the remr.ant of 
this fallen, this callous, cruel and superlatively v/icked fac- 
tion ; exclaim no more against letters de catchct, against 
bastiles, French tyranny or savage crueltv, or even tlie 

• The volumes containing- those laws, not Irb^nr in my possc-sjion. lava 
. an&bl;- to giAC tht- dates. 



( » ) 

papish inquisitioii ; if you have left, any tender feelings of 
humanity, the inhuman laws passed by your federal faction 
whilst in power, and their leaders joining Burr's infernal 
conspiracy since, must cover you with shame and confusi- 
on of face, and reduce you to a state of penitent silence ! 

To proceed, July 16, 1798, they passed a law autho- 
rizing the President to borrow 5,000,000 of dollars at 8 per 
cent, the interest to be paid quarterly, and 2,000,000 more, 
on the credit of the direct tax, and March the 2d, 1799, 
2,000,000 more, and also alaw to raise 1 2,000 men additional 
to the standing army, they commissioned and commenced the 
pay of officers for the whole, but the people were by this time 
so alarmed at their evident design to subvert our government, 
and introduce one similar to the British, that their utmost 
exertions to enlist men procured little more than 3,000 — 
finding themselves defeated in this diabolical scheme to en- 
slave the people, they had recourse to another, viz. to pass 
a law authorizing the President to take into pay, and ac- 
tual service, a large number of Volunteers ; but the vir- 
tue of the people blasted this infernal scheme to enslave 
them also ! 

On the 14th day of July, 1798, they passed alaw inflict- 
ing a penalty on persons libelling the government, and Ja- 
nuary 30, 1799they passed their inquisitorial, andevertobe 
detested sedition, (commonly called gag) law to prevent 
any inquiry or exposure of their base conduct — thus en- 
trenched they attempted by a few bold strokes to silence 
all opposition, they proceeded to prosecute, fine and im- 
prison those who dare assert their inherent right to liberty 
and freedom of speech, oppose their tyranny, or expose 
their villainy; insomAich that on the third of March 1801, 
(die last day of their political existence) they were obliged 
to pass a law appropriating 30,000 dollars to defray the ex- 
pence of prosecutions and the expence of keepingprisoners I 

1 will add but one more to the black catalogue of their 
crimes whilst in power, viz. a law passed July 9, 1798, 
ordering a valuation to be made of dwelling houses, land 
and slaves, and an account taken of the number of lights, 
and on the 14th of the same month a direct tax was or- 
dered to be levied, the collection whereof so alarmed the 
people, that they arose in the might of their powder, they 
forced their intrenchments which they had twelve years' 
been fortifying, they drove them from their strong holds, 
and from their proud, high, and lofty mountain, (from 
whence in the pride of their hearts they had looked down 
with contempt upon the people, as an inferior order of be- 



( 9 ) 

ings made for their use) they cast them into the stigian vale 
of contempt, \vhere like Lucifer and his fallen angels they 
have been incessantly plotting to deceive the people, and 
striving to regain that power they so grossly abused ; and 
were so justly deprived of. — Fellow Citizens, from the 
foregoing statement of facts, I conceive I have fully proved 
that the leaders of the federal faction were enemies to our 
Democratic government ; and strove to the utmost of their 
power to assimulate it to the British — but lest any doubt 
should remain I will adduce some further evidence which 
must carry conviction to every impartial mind. Their 
leader (John Adams) asserted the British constitution to 
be " the most stupendous fabric of human wisdom a mo- 
del of perfection" and impiously, or rather blasphemously 
declared " that the finger of heaven pointed to war" against 
the French republic, then nobly contending for liberty 
against a powerful coalition of European despots — many 
of them were anxious to enter into an alliance offensive and 
defensive with England, and to confine the right of voting 
to a small number possessed of freeholds or large property.* 
The President in high monarchical stile, at the opening of 
every session of Congress, at an appointed hour, went in 
great pomp, and delivered a speech to both houses of Con- 
gress, in imitation of his great prototype George the third's 
most gracious speeches to both houses of parliament, which 
in like manner occasioned a debate of several weeks to agree 
in what manner it should be echoed back — he held Levees 
in the British monarchical stile, and his wife her balls in 
imitation of the Queen's drawing room — and to place the 
matter beyond all doubt, he and his partizans supported a 
British hireling printer at the then seat of government 
(Philadelphia) for the express purpose of abusing, and vi- 
lifying our Democratic government, and its supporters ; 
and on the other hand applauding, and passing the highest 
eulogiums his genius could invent upon the British monar- 
chy and its advocates — in a word, they held up to the peo- 
ple the Democrats as the most detestable of all beings, and 
those who did not take and approve this British hireling's 
obscene and scurrilous paper as enemies to our government. 
Having shewn the attachment of the leaders of the Fe- 
deral faction to the British government and their incessant 
endeavours to assimilate ours thereto, and connect us there- 
V, itli ; I shall proceed to a very brief statement of the na- 

* If this fact is disputed, I stand ready to prove it upon divers of their 
leaders even in this coiintv. 

B 



i 



( 10 ) 

ture and effect of said government, upon Its own subjects, 
and the nations of the earth in general — first, as to her own 
subjects in their present state, divided into five parts, we 
find 3 parts^ viz. Clergy, Nobility, and Officers, Soldiers 
and Seamen, armed against the other two classes, unarmed, 
viz. Farmers and Mechanics, who they have reduced to 
as perfect a state of Vassalage, and a greater degree of 
poverty and suffering than the African slaves in our Sou- 
thern States ; one fourth, of the two fifths, who are en- 
deavouring to procure their bread by honest labour, being 
by the cruel oppressive laws, and enormous taxes, reduced 
to the state of paupers, supported at the public expence-— * 
here we also find more criminal prosecutions, more unhappy 
victims confined in jails, more executions and banishments 
than under any other government on earth. Let us next 
take a retrospective of the conduct of this government to- 
wards other nations — here we shall find it fomenting more 
wars, subjecting more innocent and unoffending human be- 
ings, to a state of cruel unconditional slavery, causing 
more human blood to be shed, in a word, adding more to 
the quantum of human misery, than all other nations of 
the earth added together ! to prove this I will not detain 
you with a detailed account of the numerous wars she has 
fomented during the eighteenth century and previous to the 
French revolution, but briefly call your attention to the 
countless numbers of innocent unoffending Affricans that 
she has rent from all the near and dear connections in life 
to supply her own colonies and other nations with slaves — 
in this horrid traffic (which me thinks none but infernal 
daemons in human shape could engage in) she has done 
more than all other nations of the earth. — Next take a view 
of the East Indies, and drop with me a sympathizing 
tear over the mouldering clay of many millions of the As- 
iatics (as honest, harmless, and innoffensive people as any 
in the universe). Innocent victims sacrificed by sword 
and famine to gratify the insatiable thirst for gold, of those 
pretended Christians (but in fact infernal monsters) the 
British administration and its supporters. The celebrated 
author of the political progress of Great Britain, states, 
that in 30 years previous to the French revolution, that 
government had caused to perish by sword, famine, sla- 
^^ery &c. more than thirty-one millions of human beings — 
the wars that she has fomented since that period being 
within the memory of most present, I will briefly recite, 



C 11 ) 

first, the treaty of Pilnits, which had for its object the 
conquest and partition of republican France, she was a 
principal in, if not the first instigater — ^three coalitions has 
since been formed by her intrigues, and gold wrested from 
her suffering subjects, and plundered from her inoffending 
neighbours ; but blind indeed methinks must that nation, or 
individual be, who after taking an impartial retrospective 
view of the fate of those apparent mighty and powerful 
coalitions, cannot see in their defeat an overruling and 
Almighty power, that doeth whatever he seeth meet in 
heaven, and amongst the children of men, who bringeth 
to nought the counsel of the ungodly, and when the cup 
of national iniquity is full, confuseth the wisdom of the 
wise, and causeth the strength of the mighty to fail. Thus 
it appears to me that this protestant whore of Babylon, 
who hath long been drunk with the blood of nations, who 
hath multiplyed the cries of the widows, and fatherless, 
and spread desolation in every quarter of the world ; will 
herself shortly be made desolate, and be cast down to rise 
no more — happy for the nations of the earth when the 
power of those piratical murderers are destroyed ; but 
thrice happy for her oppressed subjects, who reduced to a 
state of starvation, are compelled silently to bear the 
piercing pangs of hunger, and in secret places strew their 
briny tears produced by excruciating grief for their tender 
suffering offspring ; well knowing that complaint to those 
callous tyrants that are living in riot and luxury on the pro- 
duct of their labour, would be treated with contempt, and 
that resistance, or the least attempt to regain their liberty, 
would subject them to prisons, halters, gibbits, and the 
worse than savage cruelty, of her mercenary assassins ! 
I will conclude with stating the increase of her public 
debt during the last century, and its amount in 180r. 
In 1700 it was 16,000,000 pounds sterling. 



iri4 


50,000,000 


1728 


55,000,000 


1739 


46,000,000 


1748 


78,000,000 


1755 


75,000,000 


1763 


139,000,000 


1770 


134,000,000 


1775 


129,000,000 


1783 


262,000,000 



( 12 ) 

Hence it appears, that their debt was more than doubled 
in their attempt to enslave the colonies of North America, 
In 1786 it was 266,000,000 
1793 267,000,000 

From the treaty of Pilnits before mentioned during the 
subsequent war carried on for the purpose of conquering 
and dividing the republic of France until 1801, her debt 
was increased to the enormous sum of 465,000,000, and 
from the peace of Amiens to 1806, to 600,000,000. Such 
are the effects of a system so longheld up by the Federals, 
as a model of perfection, and which to the utmost of their 
power they strove to assimulate our government unto, and 
force us into an alliance with, and such are the consequen- 
ces of a government, which first plunders the farmer and 
mechanic, to enable the villains in power to plunder the 
world. Is there an honest heart in the United States that 
doth not rejoice in the failure of the attempt to connect us 
with that government, whereby we must have eventually 
been involved in its ruin. Doth not the heart of every 
real friend to Universal Liberty and Justice, overflow with 
gratitude to the great preserver of men, in commemora- 
tion of the 4th of March 1 801 , (that happy day that placed 
our present Chief Magistrate in the presidential chair) and • 
the great (may I not say incalculable) benefits that have 
since arisen therefrom, to which I now proceed. 

As soon as our present president, entered upon the du- 
ties of his office, he dismissed all superfluous officers in his 
power, and recommended to the next session of congress, 
to abolish all internal taxes, which restored more taxable 
articles to the respective states, than is sufficient to defray 
the expences of their governments ; he has also recommend- 
ed the abolishment of many superfluous offices, by which 
means in a short space of time, upwards of 3,000 officers, 
who had been appointed by the federal administration to 
add to their influence, strengthen their power, and act as 
spies and informers, to suppress the liberties of the people, 
were dismissed; by which, and other just economical means, 
the expences of civil government are reduced from seven, 
to less than two millions of dollars. To proceed, with only 
the revenue arising from the impost on articles imported 
into the United States, and the sale of public lands, in the 
short space of five years and a half, in which time, the 
Tripolitans (not by paying tribute as the federal adminis- 
stration did) were compelled by force of arms to make an 



( 13 ) 

honorable peace. It appears by the report of the secretary, 
that the interest on our public debt has been punctually and 
fully paid ; and upwards of 24,000,000 of dollars of the 
principal, (and upon the present plan, the whole will be paid 
in twelve years more,) and 5,000,000 of dollars remaining 
in the treasury unappropriated, which sum, was by a law 
of last session of congress, appropriated to the purchase 
of the three per cent, deferred stock, (which by the fede- 
rals had been modelled into the form of a perpetual annul- 
ty, upon the British corrupt plan) the presideijt also recom- 
mended the repeal of the oppressive, unequal and there- 
fore unjust duty upon salt, which is done — a law also, pas- 
sed last session, prohibiting the importation of slaves after 
the 1st of January 1808 — a great and fertile country has 
been purchased, larger than the original United States, 
for the trivial sum of 15,000,000 of dollars, the pavments 
so easy, that it is probable the revenue arising therefrom, 
will discharge the whole purchase money within the time 
set for payment. By this purchase we have secured the 
navigation of the river Mississippi so essential to the com- 
merce of our western states — prevented the settlement 
thereof by enemies, and secured a territory capable of pro- 
ducing sugar and tropical fruits sufficient for all the United 
States, for which we have heretofore been beholden to for- 
eign nations — our commerce has increased in a m.anner 
unparalleled in the history of mankind, also our populati- 
on and the settlement of our great and fertile western coun- 
try — through the just and wise administration towards the 
Indian tribes, they are changed from ferocious and cruel 
enemies, to peaceful friends and allies. Peace is preserv- 
ed with all nations, entangling alliances is entered into 
with none — our president affects no monarchical parade ; but 
sets a worthy example of plainness and unaffected simpli- 
city of manners, becoming the Chief Magistrate of a great 
Republic and free people ; evincing at all times in his offi- 
cial capacity, that he considers the people the only legiti- 
mate sovereigns; and officers by them appointed their ser- 
vants — being reviled, he revileth not again ; but submits 
to the decision of truth and reason, the only weapons (as 
he declared in his inaugural speech) that ought to be used 
to suppress falshood and error — in a word, freedom of in- 
vestigating the conduct of our public servants is restored ; 
our prisons are not filled with victims of monarchical 
a.nd aristocratical tyranny as in John Adams's administra- 
tion, nor our money appropriated to carry on cruel iraA 



( 14 ) 

unjust prosecutions — our peace is not disturbed by recruit- 
ing parties endeavouring to seduce our inexperienced youth 
to enlist, and join with the idle and dissipated part of the 
community, who rather than procure their bread by honest 
labor ; will become the mercenary executioners of any mo- 
narchical or aristocratical faction, that w^ill put arms in their 
hands to execute their wicked will — ^the repeal of all op- 
pressive and unjust laws and the justice and prudence of 
our administration, has restored peace and harmony 
amongst our citizens, (except the leaders of the federal 
faction beforementioned) and procured their love and con- 
fidence, which (as has been recently proved in quelling 
Burr's conspiracy) is a more sure, sale, cheap and power- 
ful defence, than a standing army of hired mercenaries — 
thus we see the declaration of the wise man in days of old 
verified, '' that v/hen the righteous bear rule the earth is 
at peace." 

Having, fellow citizens, to the best of my knowledge 
discharged my duty, and the trust you have reposed in me, 
by laying before you a true and faithful statement of the 
measures of the two administrations — the former (called 
federal) exhibiting a scene of m.onarchical parade, extra- 
vagant waste and embezzlement of public money, rapidly 
increa.sing our national debt. Every session of Congress 
(particularly during Adams' administration) passing laws, 
increasing the burthens of the people, similar to those in 
Great Britain, anxiously striving to bring the United States, 
into an alliance with her, whereby we must have been in- 
volved in her unjust, and cruel wars, and finally in her ruin 
— and when the people com.plaioed ; instead of attending 
to their complaints, and redressing their grievances ; a law 
was passed to stop their mouths, and an attempt made 
to raise a standing army to silence their complaints (as the 
British Government doth) with the sharp pointed bayonets 
of mercenary assassins. Our prisons were filled with vic- 
tims of governmental fury, and our money applied to pro- 
secute such of our fellow citizens as durst expose their 
fraud, or oppose their tyranny ; which finally so alarmed 
the people that by their elective franchise, they hurled 
those monarchical, and aristocratical tyrants from their 
high and exalted seats, which had they succeeded in rais- 
ing a standing army, could only have been effected by force 
of arms, when brother, must have been armed against 
brother, the horrors of civil war introduced, and probably 
much human kindred blood been shed. The present De- 



( 15 ) 

mocratic administration cannot be better described than by 
saying it presents a scene altogether the reverse ; as much 
more congenial to the inherent rights of man, and the pet ce 
and prosperity of these United States, as is the prolific 
rays of the glorious luminary of heaven, calling from 
earth's fertile ^vomb, sweet vernal blooms, prophetic of the 
delicious fruits of summer, or perfecting the golden har- 
vest, and substantial product of autumn ; compared with 
the piercing blasts of the frigid Zone. 

Here let me earnestly intreat my fellow citizens to bear 
in mind, that the foregoing statement is not the bare asser- 
tion of an individual liable to be prejudiced in favour of 
one side or the other ; but generally taken from the laws, 
and records of congress and reports of the Secretary of the 
treasury, to which any citizen may have access for proof ; 
and such parts as are not, I stand ready to prove before 
any court of judicature — leaving to the good sense, ho- 
nesty, and virtues of the citizens of this county, and the 
United States in general, to decide which is intitled to 
most credibility, a statement of facts, with the author's 
name annexed, whereby he is rendered responsible to his 
fellow citizens ; or anoynmous publications and false re- 
ports,* whose authors like cowardly nocturnal assassins, 
are ashamed and afraid to shew their faces, well knowing 
that if their deeds were exposed to the light of truth, in- 
stead of retaining any influence or confidence of the people ; 
they would be despised by every honest citizen, and their 
names consigned to eternal infamy. 

I should here conclude, were I not compelled by the 
love that flows in my heart in a particular manner towards 
that society with whom I had my education, and whose 
principles I still more approve than any other, the people 
commonly called Quakers to add a few words : You my 
dear friends above all other societies in these United States 
are bound by your principles, as well as gratitude (the no- 
blest passion of the human mind) to support our present 
pacific administration, it being the nearest likeness of a 
government such as you would form, had you the sole 
power, of any on earth, its motto, (and practice in unison 

* In conversation witli a respectable Citizen oftliis county a few weeks 
past, he told me he had heard several respectable fedorals declare posi- 
tively, that our g-overnment had given Bonaparte at one time 30,000,000 
and at another time 16,000,000, making in the whole 46,000,000 of dollars 
to preserve peace, and good will — to such infernal liars, 1 say no more, 
than barely to call their remembrance to the existence of a juvt God, wl2<* 
vill fijially reward every ipan according- to his works. 



( 16 ) 

iherewltb), being " peace with all nations entangling al- 
liances with none" it rejects all wars as evil, and unjust, 
but liose purely defensive — ^here then is but a single shade 
of difference between our present form of government, 
and that for v/hich you have so long, and so nobly contend- 
ed and suffered — in seriously reflecting upon this subject, 
methinks your hearts must overflow with gratitude and 
praise, to the God and Father of all our mercies, for this 
glorious change wrought in the hearts of a great majority 
of the people of these United States, in favour of that 
blessed principle " that breathes peace on earth, and good 
will to men." I have often during my temporary residence 
at the seat of government, remembered you in a feeling 
sense of that love that would gather all into the fold of 
eternal rest ; and said in my heart, oh that my beloved 
friends throughout the union, could but see what I see, 
and know what I know; could they but see, and know 
for themselves the plainness, humility, and simplicity of 
manners of our President, and his 'unremitted endeavours 
in conjunction with his supporters, to lighten the burdens 
of the people, and restore to them their inherent rights 
and liberties ; they would no more at elections support his 
©pponents, and most bitter implacable enemies. 

Dear friends, I can but with the little captive maid in 
days of old, earnestly desire that all who have been and 
still remain to be affected with the leprosy caught from the 
whore of Babylon (before mentioned) or those who have 
committed fornication with her, were with the prophet that 
is in Israel, who would heal them of their malady — ear- 
nestly desiring, yea, fervently praying, that in future you 
may be led and guided by that unerring spirit of truth, 
vv^hich is the only safe and sure guide, ordained by infinite 
wisdom for the children of men, I bid you affectionately 
farewell, and conclude with an earnest exhortation to all to 
turn their attention from men to measures — the only safe- 
and just criterion to judge men by, is their fruits, consist- 
ing of words and actions — let this rule be attended to, and 
then I am bold to say, that Avhen truly informed, every ho- 
nest hearted American in these United States, will consi- 
der himself in duty bound, to support that party, that are 
to the utmost of their power lightening the burdens of the 
people, and by their just and pacifx conduct, continu- 
ing the peace, and increasing the prosperity, wealth and 
happiness of the Union — earnestly praying that the God 
of peace, grace, mercy and truth, whose almighty power 



( ir ) 

hath begun, and so far carried on this blessed work, may 
incline the people to unite as with the heart of one man, to 
further, carry on, and perfect the same— that he may 
open the hearts of the children of men universally, to the 
knowlege of this eternal truth ; that God is love, and that 
that those that live in him live in love— -hence, when that 
blessed and happy era of time shall arrive spoken of by the 
prophet, '' when the knowlege of the Lord shall cover the 
earth, as the waters cover the sea," then will commence 
universal peace, the product of pure love, then shall the 
sucking child play upon the hole of the asp, and the weaned 
child on the cockatrice den, the wolf shall lie down with 
the lamb, and the lion instead of rending and devouring 
flesh and blood, shall eat straw like an ox — swords shall 
be beat into plow shares, and spears into pruning hooks — 
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall 
they learn war any more ! — I conclude your faithful affec- 
tionate friend and fellow citizen, 

JAMES SLOAN. 

N. B. I have heard some who have been fully convin- 
ced of the evil conduct of the federal administration ; and 
the great advantages that hath already arose from the 
change, observe, that there is good honest federals that 
would make as good members of a legislature as democrats 
— to these I recommend the consideration of this circum- 
stance, viz. I have never in the house of congress known a 
single instance, nor heard of one in any state legislature ; 
wherein in a political question, a federal member, has vo« 
ted with the democrats ; but in all cases evmced the most 
bitter, implacable and vindictive disposition towards the 
present administration, and its supporters — hence it is as 
absurd and improper for any who wish well thereto, to 
vote for a federal ; as it would be to vote for the king of 
England to be president of these United States. 



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